Press Releases

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 20, 2010) — Just one day after James Lankford took to the radio airwaves to personally attack Iraq War veteran Kevin Calvey, Calvey supporters are rushing to his defense at a press conference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. this morning in the state Capitol press room.

“James Lankford should be ashamed of himself for attacking the character of a decorated veteran like Kevin Calvey and for impugning Kevin's service to our country,” said Lieutenant General (Retired USAF) Tom Stafford, a former astronaut and Deputy Chief of Staff for the Air Force. "Kevin Calvey is no career politician – he left politics in 2006, when he could have continued as a lobbyist or in a government job, and instead volunteered to serve our country in Iraq," said General Stafford.  “James Lankford has never served our country, but Kevin Calvey risked his life for our country in Iraq. He served in a hostile fire zone, and brought justice to over 100 terrorists. Now THAT is character.”

A local Baptist pastor also weighed in on Lankford’s negative attacks, and will be on hand to make comments at the press conference.

“James Lankford claims to have character, but his negative personal attacks clearly show that he does not,” said Baptist Pastor Tom Vineyard, of Windsor Hills Baptist Church. “Accusing Kevin Calvey of lying is itself a lie. Kevin has not said one thing during this campaign that is not true. Mr. Lankford may not like it when Kevin points out important differences in their positions on issues, but those differences are real, not invented. Those differences matter, and voters should know about them.”

"Several times I have discussed with James Lankford his remarks attacking Kevin Calvey for Calvey's courageous stand against the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)," said Vineyard.  "Lankford falsely accused Calvey of "political posturing" on CAIR, and it is outrageous for Lankford to attack Calvey that way, especially when Calvey personally prosecuted terrorists in Iraq.  It is clear that James Lankford does not adequately understand the threat of Islamic extremism, and that Kevin Calvey does." 

Calvey said he will have more to say on this subject in the upcoming press conference, scheduled for today at 11:00 a.m. in the state Capitol press room, located on the fourth floor of the building.

Kevin Calvey is a small business owner and a conservative former state representative from Del City. Kevin volunteered to deploy to Iraq as a captain in the Army National Guard in 2007.  His mission in Iraq was to prosecute al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists in the Iraqi court system.  Kevin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.  Kevin recently filed a federal lawsuit against President Obama to challenge the constitutionality of the new health-care law. More than 1000 Oklahomans have joined Kevin as plaintiffs.  Kevin and his wife, Toni, live in Oklahoma City with their daughter, Anastasia and their newborn son, Thomas.

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 17, 2010) — Leaders of Vets for Freedom, Iraq Veterans for Congress and 911 Families for a Safe and Strong America are saying that Kevin Calvey is the only candidate in the Fifth District runoff who will stand up to Islamic extremists and terrorists.


Early on in the Congressional race for Oklahoma’s Fifth District, James Lankford attacked Calvey, accusing him of “political posturing” because of Calvey’s refusal to meet the radical hate group known as C.A.I.R. (The Council on American Islamic Relations).


“Accusing Kevin Calvey of political posturing when Calvey is taking a courageous stance against an extremist hate group shows a lack of understanding on the part of James Lankford,” said Kieran Lalor, founder of Iraq Veterans for Congress. “C.A.I.R. is labeled as a hate group, and they have known ties to terrorist organizations. The F.B.I. has cut ties with the group. And yet Mr. Lankford calls it ‘political posturing’ when Mr. Calvey says he won’t meet with these Muslim extremists.”


Flagg Youngblood, Vets for Freedom PAC Director, also criticized Lankford’s understanding of defense issues.  "As a leader in one of our country's veterans groups, I am shocked that James Lankford attacked Kevin Calvey for Calvey's principled stand against C.A.I.R.  Our veterans deserve better than to have opportunistic politicians like James Lankford trying to score cheap political points at the expense of those who have served our country," said Youngblood.


Tim Sumner, co-founder of 911 Families for a Safe and Strong America, added, "James Lankford should be ashamed of himself for attacking Iraq War veteran Kevin Calvey because of Calvey's courageous stand against the Council on American Islamic relations.  Lankford is very naive about terrorism.  Calvey is very clear about the threat of terrorism.  As co-founder of the nation's largest group of 911 survivors, I urge all Oklahoma voters to choose Kevin Calvey August 24."



“I am very honored to have the support of the patriots running Vets for Freedom, Iraq Veterans for Congress, and 911 Families for a Safe and Strong America,” Calvey said.  “I have seen the threat that extremist Islam poses firsthand.  I have put terrorists behind bars.  I know what it takes to keep American safe and I will do just that in Congress.


"I understand the threat facing us and I ask for the vote of every citizen who wants a strong response to terrorism that won't mince words and won't fall prey to political correctness.”


Kevin Calvey is a small business owner and a conservative former state representative from Del City. Kevin volunteered to deploy to Iraq as a captain in the Army National Guard in 2007.  His mission in Iraq was to prosecute al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists in the Iraqi court system.  Kevin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service.  Kevin recently filed a federal lawsuit against President Obama to challenge the constitutionality of the new health-care law. More than 1000 Oklahomans have joined Kevin as plaintiffs.  Kevin and his wife, Toni, live in Oklahoma City with their daughter, Anastasia and their newborn son, Thomas.

1)    Protect the Constitution.

2)    Reject Cap & Trade.

3)    Demand a balanced budget.

4)    Enact fundamental tax reform.

5)    Restore fiscal responsibility & constitutionally limited government.

6)    End runaway government spending.

7)    Defund, repeal & replace government-run health care.

8)    Pass an “all-of-the-above” energy policy.

9)    Stop the pork.

10) Stop the tax hikes.